Step2

Comments about Step2 Naturally Playful Summertime Play Center:

The table is great and the kids love it but rain gets in and the lid is flimsy. We bought ours used, wouldn't have paid full price. If using sand, it needs to be changed each year. Great for [$], not quite for new price..

Comments about Step2 Naturally Playful Summertime Play Center:

Bought this for an Easter gift for my kids and when we opened it, the cover was warped and terribly flimsy. Then upon inspection of the sandbox we noticed that the sandbox was bent as well. This would have been a great product if the cover was as sturdy as the other naturally playful items or if it has bungies to secure the cover on. Took it back and the store manager opened three others and they all had the same problems so we ended up with just the regular naturally playful sandbox which had a much sturdier design for half the price. I was really bummed as this product could have been great!

Comments about Step2 Naturally Playful Summertime Play Center:

I decided I did not want an actual sandbox because then you have sand covered children. We opt to use this as a great little kids pool and lunch table.

My favorite things about it are:

-it's just the right depth for water for small children
-the optional umbrella provides some sun protection
-it drains quickly
-having the table up top makes for a great surface to conduct "scientific water experiments" while playing in the water
-the attached table also means they can eat while playing in the pool or come out and take a break.

My Least Favorite things are:

-The included umbrella will almost certainly have to be replaced each year. It can't withstand much wind.
-The picnic table part becomes a fantastic place for spiders to hide so you need to be dilligent about checking it and cleaning them out.

Service and delivery comments:

I think this should be advertised for both uses - sand and water. It is the best little pool we ever had!

Comments about Step2 Naturally Playful Summertime Play Center:

Easy to assembly and my toddler loves it. The fact that it came with a large umbrella was what sold us on it as we didn't have a shaded area to put a sandbox.

Service and delivery comments:

The lid is very flimsy and doesn't sit well on the box. I'd like for the lid to have a way to secure it to the box so the wind can't blow it off. Also, the umbrella can't be secured to the box. the 200 lbs of sand in the box is heavy enough to anchor down the umbrella but the umbrella is not attached to the sand box unit. Instead, the post just drops down into the hole. My wife forgot to take the umbrella down while I was at work and it blew away. Not as much a design flaw as it is human error, but parents do get busy!

Comments about Step2 Naturally Playful Summertime Play Center:

Overall this seems like a good product even though I am a bit concerned about how durable the plastic will be with kids sitting on the sandbox edges. I really like the combo of the table & sandbox and the umbrella is a great idea. The colors are very pleasant & blend into the yard very well.

I am a bit perplexed by a two things though. First, the lid seems like an afterthought. It just seems to rest on top of the base & doesn't really fit the contours of the base. Secondly, there are 3 holes around the perimeter of the sandbox base that do not appear in the pictures. They do not appear to have any function & seem like they will just collect debris & harbor insects. I think we will need to add our own caps to these holes.

I'd see about other comparable options before recommending to anyone.